Techtronic Industries (TTI) is a leader in power tools, accessories, hand tools, outdoor power equipment and floor care for do-it-yourself (DIY), professional and industrial users. The company designs and develops high-performance, high-quality, emissions-free cordless power tools and equipment.
New innovation center helps company deliver breakthrough products
The TTI Innovation Center is a new, 300,000-square-foot office and product development facility on TTI’s corporate campus in Anderson, S.C. Designed by McMillan Pazdan Smith, Greenville, S.C., the signature building brought an additional 250 jobs to the Anderson County, and includes three main buildings connected by common circulation corridors, a parking deck, chiller plant, battery testing lab, walking trails and fields on-site.
To design the center, the designers were looking for a building envelope solution that reflected the contemporary, innovative nature of the company. “TTI wanted to reflect their image with a well-crafted, eye-catching building as it is visible from the interstate,” explains Earle Hungerford, architect with McMillan Pazdan Smith. “We were able to create the image they were looking for in a cost-effective manner and erect the building quickly.”
Metal panels of various colors were used to project a sleek, well-crafted skin that accentuated the various forms of the programmed space types, Hungerford adds. “The different forms also helped break down the mass of a large complex. The metal skin allowed the corner details in the changes of form to be sharp and well made, which is a reflection of the products the company makes.”
The $70 million project features nearly 24,000 square feet of Lewisville, Texas-based Metl-Span’s CF Architectural Flat Panels in Silversmith and 5,000 square feet in Dark Gray Metallic. The concealed fastener panels were installed over six weeks by Pickens Contracting Inc., Greer, S.C.
ALPOLIC aluminum composite material panels from Mitsubishi Chemical Composites America Inc., Chesapeake, Va., and insulated metal panels of different colors were used to accentuate the office tower, entry and laboratory without creating much customization. “The multiple skin types and changes in plans in the corners incorporated industry details that the installers were able to confidently provide,” Hungerford says.
Overall, the metal panels provided a cost-effective way to clad the building, while creating a contemporary image that would stand the test of time. A variety of glazing systems were integrated into the metal wall panel system to provide an abundance of natural light.